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“Amazing” Tops Words Banished List

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) – Amazing, occupy, man cave, baby bump are some of the words that are on Lake Superior State University’s annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.

Amazing received the most nominations.

“We were amazed it hadn’t been dealt with yet,” LSSU spokesman John Shibley told WWJ’s Sandra McNeill. Amazing received about 975 votes out of about 4,000 nominations.

“Alot of these words and phrases they are repeated over and over and over again…alot of these verbal ticks are more noticeable because they sort of reverberate throughout the variety of media that we have,” Shibley said adding people are angry about words and some find humor when words are overused.

Many nominators mentioned overuse on television when they sent their entries, mentioning “reality” TV, Martha Stewart and Anderson Cooper. It seemed to bother people everywhere, as nominations were sent from around the US and Canada and some from overseas, including Israel, England and Scotland, according to Lake Superior State University.

“Every talk show uses this word at least two times every five minutes. Hair is not ‘amazing.’ Shoes are not ‘amazing.’ There are any number of adjectives that are far more descriptive. I saw Martha Stewart use the word ‘amazing’ six times in the first five minutes of her television show. Help!” Martha Waszak of Lansing wrote in her nomination.

“It’s amazing that you haven’t added that word to your list over the years. Totally, absolutely, really amazing. Not quite astounding, but still amazing,” wrote Charles Attardi from Astoria, New York.

“Although I am extremely happy to no longer hear the word ‘awesome’ used incorrectly and way too often, it appears to me it is quickly being replaced with ‘amazing.’ Pay attention and you will no doubt be amazingly surprised to find that I am right.” Gregory Scott from Palm Springs, California said.

The second most nominated was “baby bump” followed by “shared sacrifice.”

“This is a phrase we need to finally give birth to, then send on its way.” Mary Sturgeon of Vancouver, British Columbia wrote about baby bump.

“Usually used by a politician who wants other people to share in the sacrifice so he/she doesn’t have to.” Scott Urbanowski of Kentwood, Michigan said about shared sacrifice.

Other words on the banished list are occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous and thank you in advance.

The word banishment list was created in 1975 by former Lake Superior State Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his friends at a New Year’s Eve Party.

The list was released two days earlier this year because New Year’s Day falls on a weekend.